Water-column connection for steam-boilers.



y a, STRATTON. WATER COLUMN CONNECTION FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I9| ISIS 1 ,234,955, 4 Patented July 31; 1917.

WWIIIIWI I I army 21 T. G. STReTToN THOMAS GEORGE STBATTGN; 0! FALLBITTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

warns-comm: comcrion non srnan-nornnns.

Application and m is, 1915. Serial No. noses.

To all whom it may concern:

B it known that 1, Thomas G. Srnawron, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts. have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinWater- Column Connections for Steam-Boilers, of which the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawinventionrelates to an improved water column connection for steam boilers, andhas for its primary object to provide means whereby the flow of waterthrough the water column may be reversed so as to positively clean outall sediment from the column without necessitating its removal from theboiler.

It is another object of my invention to provide a fitting connecting thelower end oi? the water column to the boiler, a valve mounted therein toclose the pipe connection to the boiler or the lower end of the watercolumn, and means for positively holding said valve in a neutralposition to permit of the ilree and unobstructed circulation of waterbetween the boiler and the water column.

It is one of the more particular objects or the hivention to provide avertically movable locking element mounted upon an,

arm or extension from the valve casing, means for removably mount-in anoperating lever upon said arm, said ever having means for operativeengagement with the valve stem, and means for retaining said lockinmember in operative engagement with the valve stem to hold the valve ina neutral position. i

It is a further general object of my in vention to improve and slmpliivdevices of the above character, whereby the same are rendered highlyserviceable and convenient in practical use and capable of manufactureat relatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, In invention consists in thenovel features of constructiom combination and arran ement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in theoccompanying drawing, in which,

- Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the water columnconnection, illustrating the referred embodiment of my invention anshowing the valve in a neutral position 5 Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Specification of hotter: Patent. Patented J My 31, 191?,

Fig. 3 is a similar view showingl the valve ipiperating lever mountedupon t e connec- Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2; and Fig. 5. is a detail perspective view of the verticallymovable locking plate. Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 deslgnatesthe valve casing or fitting which is provided with a way 6 affordingcommunication between the nipples 7 and 8 on the r 4 valve casing whichextend at right angles to each other and are interiorly threaded forconnection to the pipe 9 leading to the boiler and the lower end of thewater column 10 respectively. The casing 5 is also provided below theway 6 with a chamber 11 having an interiorly threaded outlet nipple 12.The wall 13 separating the chamber 11 from the way 6 has an opening 14therein, and annular valve seats 15 and 18 are formed on the wall oi theway 6 at opposite sides of this opening. 1

A spider 17 is threaded in the inner end of the nipple 7 and provides ahearing or support for one end of the valve stem 18. A valve dish 19 isfixed upon this stem for movement between the seats 15 and 16. The valvestem 18 extends through a suitable stuifing box 29 in the outer side ofthe casing 5 and the extremity thereof is threaded to" receive aperipherally grooved collar 21, the purpose of which Wlll be presentlyreferred to.

In the neutral position of the valve 19 as shown in Fig. 1, the nippleor extension 12 is closed by means of a suitable plug so that there willhe a free and unobstructed how or circulation of the water between andthrough the boiler andthe water column. When it is des'Ee-d to clean outthe glass water column, the valve 19 is shifted to engage the same uponthe seat 15, and the water will then how from theboiler through thecolumn '10 and the valve casing, and he discharged through the nipple 12from which the plug has been removed. All sedimentary matter is thuscarried oft throu 'h the water column. The valve 19 may e shifted aftera portion of the water has run ofi from the boiler through the watercolumn into engagement upon the seat 16, and the flow of water will thenbe reversed, and the sediment in the boiler will be run 05 with thewater through the pipe-connection 9 and chamber 11 to the outlet 12. Itis thus seen that it is not necessary to remove the water column or pipeconnections in order to clean out said column or the boiler. For thepurpose of positively holding the valve in its neutral position, I haveprovided a vertically movable locking plate 22, said plate being formedon its longitudinal edges and on one face thereof with the inwardlyprojecting, channel-shaped flanges 23. These channel flanges receive thevertical ribs 24' formed upon an arm or extension 24 which projectslaterally from the valve casing 5. It will be observed that thechannel-shaped flanges 23 project for a considerable distance above theupper end of the plate 22. The flanges which engage upon the outer facesof the ribs 24' are provided upon their upper ends with the downwardlyand laterally projecting hook-shaped lugs 26, and immediately below saidlugs, notches or seats 27 are formed in the side faces of said flanges.The

- lower end of the plate 22 is in the form of a yoke, the spaced arms 28of which are adapted for engagement upon opposite sides of the groovedcollar 21 on the valve stem 18. For the purpose of retaining the lockingplate 22 in operative engagement with the collar 21, a pin 29 is looselymounted in a cylindrical socket formed in the arm 24, and a spring 30arranged in said socket normally urges the pin outwardly to engage theend thereof over the upper edge of the plate 22, and thus prevent saidplate from moving upwardly upon the guide flanges 24 and becomingdisengaged from the collar 21.

The outer end-of the arm 24 is formed with a downwardly projecting gooseneck 31 which produces a relatively narrow entrance 33 to asubstantially circular opening or channel 32. This channel receives thecylindrical end bar 35 of a lever frame'3, the other end of said. framebeing extended to form a suitable handle 36. It is understood,

of course, that the pin 29 is forced inwardly and the plate 22 raised sothat the bar 35 of the lever frame may be engaged in the channel 32. Thehookbills 26 on the upper ends of the flanges 23 engage over the leverbar 35 so that the plate 22 will be supported in' its raised position. Ayoke bar 37 is mounted in the inner end of the rectangular lever frame,said yoke being provided upon its ends with the laterally projectintrunnions 38' which are. loosely engaged or turning movement in thelongitudinal bars of the frame. This yoke is adapted for engagement uponthe lower side of the grooved collar 21 when the lever is arrangedjinits'operative position upon the arm 24: as, above described. Bymanipulating said lever, it will be readily understood that the valvestem and valve 19 may be conveniently shifted so as to engage the valveupon either of the seats 15 'or 16, and when said lever is removed afterthe valve has been returned to its neutral position, the plate 22 willimmediately drop into locking engagement with the collar 21 and be heldin such position by the pin 29.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the construction, manner of operation and severaladvantages of my invention will be clearly and fully understood. Thedevice is highly convenient in practical use, as it enables the-boilerand water column to be quicky cleaned without removing the water columnor any of the pipe fittings orconnections. The several parts of thedevice can be very easily and quickly assembled,

may be produced at comparatively small manufacturing cost. It ismanifest, of course, that the valve casing, as well as the form of thevalve employed, may be changed as desired or as the particularcircumstances may require. The several elements employed in the deviceare also susceptible of considerable modification and it is, therefore,to be understood that I reserve the privilege of adopting all suchlegitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scopeof the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim andsecure by Letters Patent is r p 1. The combination with a water column,of a boiler connection therefor including a valve casing having a wayconnecting the lower end of the water column with the boiler and adischarge opening communicating with said way, an axially shiftablevalve mounted in said casing and operable to close commimication betweensaid casing and the way or between the casing and the boiler connection,and means to operatively engage the valve stem and hold said valve in aneutral position to permit of the circulation of water through the valvecasing between the water column and the boiler.

2. The combination with a water column, of a boiler connection thereforincluding a valve casing having a way connecting the lower end of thewater column with the boiler and a discharge openmg communicat- 3. Thecombination with a water column,

of a boiler'connectio'n therefor including a valve casing having a wayconnecting the lower end of the water column with the boiler and adischarge opening communicating with said way, a valve mounted in saidcasing to open orclose communication between either the water column orthe boiler and said discharge opening, said valve having a stem, aperipherally grooved collar upon said stem, a slidable yoke membermounted upon the casing for operative engagement with said collar tohold the valve in a neutral position and permit of the free circulationof water through and between the water column and the boiler, and meansfor locking said sliding plate in operative engagement with said collar.

4. The combination with a water column,

' of a boiler connection therefor including a valve casing having a wayconnecting the lower end of the water column with the boiler and adischarge opening communicoating with said way, a valve mounted in saidcasing to open or close communication between either the water column orthe boiler and said discharge opening, said valve having a stem, aperipherally grooved collar upon said stem, a slidable yoke membermounted upon the casing for operative en'- gagement with said collar tohold the valve in a neutral position and permit of the free circulationof water through and between the water column and the boiler, means forlocking said sliding plate in operative engagement with said collar, anoperating lever, means for detachably mounting said lever upon the valvecasing, said locking plate being provided with means for engage mentwith the lever whereby the plate is sustained in an inoperativeposition, and means carried by the lever to operatively engage saidcollar, whereby the valve stem may be shifted and the valve actuated.

5. The combination with a water column, of a boiler connection thereforincluding a valve casing having a way connecting the lower end of thewater column with the boiler andra discharge opening communicat ing withsaid way, a valve mounted in said casing to open or close communicationbetween either the water column or the boiler and said dischargeopening, said valve having a stem, a peripherally grooved collar uponsaid stem, a slidable yoke member mounted upon the casing for operativeengagement with said collar to hold the valve in a neutral position andpermit of the free circulation of water through and between the watercolumn and the boiler, means for locking said sliding plate in operativeengagement with said collar, an operating lever, means for detachablymounting said 'lever upon the valve casing, said locln'ng plate beingprovided with means for engagement with the lever whereby the plate issustained in an inoperative position, and

a yoke member swiveled in said lever to operatively engage the collar,whereby the valve stem may be shifted and the valve actuated. i

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

THOMAS GEORGE STRATTON.

' Witnesses:

' STEPHEN W. Mam, Joan M. Cowman.

